Pages: 131-132

FROM THE NEWSPAPER "VPERYOD" OF FEBRUARY 7 (JANUARY 25), 1905
THE FRUITS OF VICTORY.

The fruit of the Tsar's victory over the unarmed people was, as one might have expected, terrible embitterment of even the grayest working masses against the Tsar and the loss of faith in him. Here is how this mood is expressed in the appeals of G. Gapon:

TO THE ARMY: . . .
TO THE WORKERS: . . .

In addition to these appeals, we will cite only the reviews of local social-democrats, communicated to us in letters from January 10. One writes among other things: see pp. bb to vv (pp. 4-5)

Another local s.d. writes: (pp. 6-9) ***.

PETERSBURG AFTER JANUARY 9TH.

[Today, — wrote one correspondent of a foreign newspaper, — Petersburg can be compared to the Neva: calm, just like icy calm, on the surface, and enormous agitation beneath this deceptive exterior. Crowds of sympathizers, especially students, besiege the hospitals. Persistent rumors are spreading that the Tsar has fled from Tsarskoye Selo to Gatchina.]

On Monday, January 10, Petersburg had the appearance of a city just conquered by the enemy. Patrols of Cossacks constantly drive through the streets. Here and there agitated groups of workers are visible. In the evening many streets are plunged into darkness. There is no electricity or gas. Aristocratic houses are guarded by groups of doormen. Burning newspaper kiosks cast strange light on clusters of people.

On the Nevsky [on Monday] there were clashes between the people and troops. The crowd was fired upon again. Details are still unknown. Near the Anichkov Palace three volleys were fired. The police were closing arms shops and removing weapons to cellars, obviously taking every measure to prevent workers from arming themselves. Officials of government institutions felt particularly alarmed, fearing arson and explosions, and fled Petersburg in panic.

On Vasilyevsky Island, the barricades captured by troops on Sunday were rebuilt on Monday and again taken by soldiers.

There are no newspapers. Educational institutions are closed. Workers in masses hold private meetings to discuss events and measures of resistance. Crowds of sympathizers, especially students, besiege the hospitals.

[The government is zealously searching for the instigators. During the night from Monday to Tuesday arrests begin. Members of the (Saturday) delegation are taken: Gessen, Arsenyev, Karsev, Yeshchonov, Myakotin, Semevsky, Kedrin, Ivanchin-Insarev, Shintnikov(?). Gorky departed for Riga and an arrest warrant was sent there. On Tuesday, General-Governor Trepov of Petersburg is appointed with dictatorial powers, one of the most hated servants of Tsarism in all of Russia.]

It is reported that Kolpino workers, numbering 20-30 thousand, set out on Tuesday morning with a petition to Tsarskoye Selo. The Tsarskoye Selo garrison sent a regiment of infantry and a field battery to meet them. At a distance of five versts from Kolpino a clash occurred; troops fired and finally repulsed and dispersed the workers at 4 p.m. Many killed and wounded. The workers twice attacked the Tsarskoye Selo railroad, but were repulsed. Along a stretch of about 7 versts the rails were torn up, and trains did not run in the morning.

The government buries at night, secretly, the victims of the bloody, Vladimirova Sunday. Relatives and acquaintances of the killed are deliberately deceived to make demonstrations at funerals impossible. Entire cars of corpses are sent to the Preobrazhensky cemetery. In some places the crowd nevertheless attempts, despite all police precautions, to arrange a demonstration in honor of the fallen fighters for freedom.